Statement on gambling application approval
Bowls Australia has sought and received approval from the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation to be the controlling body for betting on bowls events.
This proactive initiative was taken by Bowls Australia to be granted recognition as the sport’s controlling body in an effort to ensure that the ongoing integrity of national and international competitions are maintained.
As a result of this decision, Bowls Australia will be able to monitor any suspicious or unusual betting transactions on events played under its auspices, in alignment with the sport’s national match fixing and disciplinary policies.
This formal approval means there will be greater visibility about who has placed bets on national bowls competitions, by providing the national governing body with access to records about who is laying bets, so that it can enforce the policy of prohibiting people involved in the sport from betting on events.
There have been markets framed on bowls events by gambling agencies previously, historically our larger marquee events, including the Australian Open and more recently our Australian Premier League, without consultation with Bowls Australia and at the agency’s discretion.
As Bowls Australia has not, until now, been recognised as the controlling body for the sport, it has not been able to access any analytical data to understand the frequency or quantity of the bets placed, or whether any of the personnel involved were in conflict with the national match fixing policy.
The national match fixing policy articulates that relevant persons including Australian and BA contracted players or coaches, member state contracted players or coaches, national selectors, BA employed staff, squad support staff, participating players and officials are ineligible to bet, gamble or enter into any other form of financial speculation on any competition or on any event connected with Bowls Australia.
Click here to read Bowls Australia’s match fixing policy.
Click here to view Bowls Australia’s disciplinary policy.
